As someone who commutes 3-4 times a week in heavy traffic, I wouldn't mind having one of these. I have street-legal TT500 with a bonkers motor and still get around 85mpg. Would love to grab one of these and rack up some serious miles. If they can get the cost around $4,500 MSRP, it would be a bang for the buck. But if it's more like the new CB500, which will have an MSRP around $7,000, then not so much.

Yamaha already has the V-Star 250 and the XT250 for beginners. I seriously doubt they consider beginners important enough to risk bringing something else in. Even though it is an existing model, it would cost a fortune to get it certified to sell in the U.S. Used to you could just bring a few over, if they sold well, bring over some more, if not, no big deal. But with DOT and EPA, it don't work that way no more.

Because they have the bikes some of us want.
Simple, light, low cost, good economy, practical.
Most of the bikes like the sr400 and the cb400ss are only sold in Japan, hardly a 3rd world country.
I suppose, in Japan, not a lot of people buy cb1500rrr type bikes, but TU250's, sr400's and other vintage looking bikes sell, as do Harley's.

If I could have a collection of bikes in my Garage, I would want a TU250, an sr400, a cb400ss, a V7 classic, a w650, along with some older standard bikes, and I would not have one modern abs, traction control, water cooled wonderbike.

I think smaller standards are also popular in Europe, and people even tour on smaller bikes, plus the vintage thing has always been big in England.

These type of bikes tend to be light and comfortable, cheap and fun, with real seats and the ability to mount a rack and carry a passenger in some comfort.
Contrast the new cb250 or 300 ninja, useless seats, no way to carry stuff without mods, loads of plastic to remove to service, valves may use shims, over weight for the size, uncomfortable riding position unless racing.

Some people will trade everything for performance, and others want a good all around bike.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Navin

Why some among us want the new moto market to better reflect that of a 3rd World nation I have no idea! I remember the uber deseriable bikes they wuoldn't import but they sent us "these". Ugh!

Because they have the bikes some of us want.
Simple, light, low cost, good economy, practical.
Most of the bikes like the sr400 and the cb400ss are only sold in Japan, hardly a 3rd world country.
I suppose, in Japan, not a lot of people buy cb1500rrr type bikes, but TU250's, sr400's and other vintage looking bikes sell, as do Harley's.

If I could have a collection of bikes in my Garage, I would want a TU250, an sr400, a cb400ss, a V7 classic, a w650, along with some older standard bikes, and I would not have one modern abs, traction control, water cooled wonderbike.

I think smaller standards are also popular in Europe, and people even tour on smaller bikes, plus the vintage thing has always been big in England.

These type of bikes tend to be light and comfortable, cheap and fun, with real seats and the ability to mount a rack and carry a passenger in some comfort.
Contrast the new cb250 or 300 ninja, useless seats, no way to carry stuff without mods, loads of plastic to remove to service, valves may use shims, over weight for the size, uncomfortable riding position unless racing.

Some people will trade everything for performance, and others want a good all around bike.